With layers upon layers of delightfully executed ideas that also pay tribute to the classics, this isn't just by far the best Switch 2 exclusive but probably the best game you'll play this year. Move over Astro Bot, the top banana is here.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is a high bar not just for remaking but for reimagining a beloved gaming classic. It feels just as great to play on Switch 2 without compromises, even if this port doesn't fix some of its existing flaws.

Blending brutal third-person action with intimate first-person horror, resetting the series with stunning visuals, smarter enemies, and bold narrative ambition, Resident Evil Requiem may be familiar, but it's executed with confidence, polish, and genuine dread.

More friction free than ever, Monster Hunter Wilds welcomes new players, but also offers the series’ most exciting endgame thanks to its open-world structure, topped off with some brilliant new additions to the monster roster…The most accessible Monster Hunter game to date.

A little more forgiving but still just as hostile and relentless, Saros is a worthy companion piece to Returnal and another terrific first-party showcase for PS5. It successfully builds on Housemarque's unique talent for beautiful bullet patterns, creepy tentacles and pulse-pounding action that makes you feel in danger while being the danger at the same time.

Tracks new and old look gorgeous, items boast high visual impact, and I'm not yet bored of scooping up costumes, but the top level gameplay changes are not easy to ignore. Perhaps my biggest gripes will be addressed in a patch down the track, but for now I'm not sure World is yet ready to replace my party game mainstay or its predecessor, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

This is no lazy homage. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle delivers one the finest cinematic gaming experiences you'll ever play. A proper new Indiana Jones film that is actually a video game, in which you control Indy, with all his signature moves and quirks: the stuff of fans’ dreams, in other words.

Not just Lizardcube's most visually accomplished game to date but a fantastic revival of another long dormant Sega franchise that doesn't stand to toe-to-toe with this summer's other major 2D ninja platformer but even tops it with its stylish and satisfying combo-based combat, killer finishes and Metroidvania-lite upgrades. Shinobi is truly back with a vengeance and it's never looked better.

A colourful, accessible spin-off that distils the heart of Monster Hunter into a breezy JRPG. Beneath the anime charm lies surprising depth, even if repetition and grind occasionally dull the hunt.

Very much 'Vibes the Video Game', but what a vibe it is. Mixtape expertly captures the joys of youth, where creative flights of fancy turn the mundane into surreal and snappy acts of teenage rebellion. Through its eclectic soundtrack and handmade aesthetic, it's a loving ode to an analogue past you can still reach out and feel.

Insightful writing and tightly controlled tabletop RPG pacing makes this new expanded sequel worth your time, even if you're new to the Citizen Sleeper universe.

A clever retro-inspired adventure with deep, endlessly absorbing combat and a superb story. Octopath Traveler 0's music and charm shine through, even if some poor side-missions and a basic village builder hold it back.

Keep Driving knows it’s all about the journey rather than the destination, and it perfectly captures the feeling of being young and free and foolish. The learning curve is initially steep, and the encounters can eventually get repetitive, but it offers a beautifully drawn and wonderfully charismatic adventure that you won’t forget in a hurry.

The best 2D Ninja Gaiden game that pays homage before surpassing the original as a thoroughly modern pixel art action game, from its gorgeous and gory visuals to a delicious suite of cool mechanics with room for changing up your playstyle, with plenty to keep you coming back. The next 3D title in the franchise this autumn, as well as Sega's own Shinobi, has got its work cut out because the bar has just gotten higher.

Brilliantly rethinks run-and-gun gameplay for the 2020s, enabled by thoroughly modern visuals. Doom: The Dark Ages is an object lesson into how to modernise an old classic.

If you want to drop into the arcades of the 1980s on your Switch, Operation Night Strikers is a collection that demands attention. More than simply letting you replay the games as you remember them, it revitalises that love for snappy, uncomplicated arcade shooters.

This retro game collection features some all time greats and offers a lesson in bold design. The great – SF Alpha 3, Capcom Vs SNK, Project Justice, Power Stone – remain great, but a couple of filler entries hold back Capcom Fighting Collection 2.

This beautifully realised adventure earns every step you take through its hand-drawn world, and makes Metroidvania feel accessible.

A hand-painted, emotionally rich puzzle-platformer blending cinematic storytelling, inventive puzzles, and a meaningful companion dynamic, Planet of Lana 2 expands on everything loved about the original but no more.

A confident sequel that finally gives the series its own identity, but The Outer Worlds 2 feels like an evolution of ideas rather than something new.

Ninja Gaiden 4 is beautifully made, blisteringly fast and defiantly old-school in its approach to combat and design. No rules are broken or rewritten, but fans and newcomers will find joy in the game's aggressive, approachable gameplay.

Ubisoft Quebec renders feudal Japan with breathtaking detail and sets up two fascinating leads to experience its warring period with, but the trade-offs between the dual playstyles and frustrating control issues will likely test your patience during this epic journey. You'll still push through for the sake of Assassin's Creed Shadows' epic narrative and virtual historical tourism, but when compared with other older open world games set in Japan, you just wish it could feel more fun in the hands.

Every time I feel frustrated by the combat, Sorry We're Closed will pop up with a beautiful character design, drop a great puzzle, squeeze out some catchy, snarky dialogue and then push me into a dungeon that recalls the heyday of survival horror. So, can I overlook it's one misstep, of course I can – particularly as this console release has made moves to smooth out this issue. Sorry We're Closed is an adventure worth opening.

While it may drip feed its story for longer than necessary and doesn't really go out of its way to subvert the cosy game, those who are looking for a way to relax will find comfort in the intricate and charming processes of making tea to pass the time.

After a long time away, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves shows the series is still fighting fit. While its package isn't without some blemishes, this is no throwback but takes its rightful place in this modern era of excellent fighting games.

If you want to showcase what Switch 2 can do, plug in Fast Fusion and let rip – beautiful, fast and innovative. The only drawback is a lack of online multiplayer.

A deliriously vibrant journey into absurdity, Revenge of the Savage Planet is a feast for the eyes and a treat for anyone looking for something unashamedly different, even if the game's Metroidvania style can dampen the escapism.

A game that weaves in Yoko Taro and Fumito Ueda influences, and still feels unique, only the occasional camera friction can dampen Motorslice's brilliance.